The Y-D Red Sox won in dramatic fashion on Sunday night, defeating the Hyannis Harbor Hawks by a score of 5-4. Avery Ortiz hadn’t played in over a week, but that didn’t stop him from becoming the hero against Hyannis.
Ortiz reached on an error in the first inning, advancing to second base after the ball rolled all the way to the wall on the first base side. After being out of the lineup for several games, he was immediately in the middle of the action. He reached third base on a wild pitch but was then thrown out trying to steal home a few pitches later.
Being mentally prepared as a designated hitter is challenging enough, but delivering immediate production after several games off is especially impressive.
“Staying ready in the dugout, after a week off, you still have to stay mentally present,” Ortiz said after the game when asked how he stayed focused. “Come to the field each and every day, mentally prepare like every one of these guys. Staying present, staying where my feet are, was ultimately the thing for me.”
The sophomore from Oklahoma State reached base again in the third inning, this time thanks to a ground ball to left field. In 5 games with Y-D this summer, Ortiz has a .921 OPS and .389 average.
Jack Bell walked with one out in the ninth inning, becoming the tying run for Y-D. Dean Carpentier followed with a 102 mph double off the left-field wall, quickly shifting the game’s momentum in Y-D’s favor. Hyannis intentionally walked Brayden Dowd, electing to face Ortiz with the bases loaded instead.
It didn’t take long for them to regret their decision, as Ortiz lined the second pitch he saw into center field. Jason Walk (OU) bobbled the ball in center, though it would’ve been a tough play to throw out the speedy Carpentier at the plate. Both Bold and Carpentier came around to score, giving Y-D a 5–4 victory. Within seconds, the Y-D dugout rushed the field to celebrate with Ortiz, who had run all the way into center field in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid the swarm of teammates.
“I didn’t really let the moment come to me. I was just looking for something over the plate that I could handle and drive,” said Ortiz after the game. “Just trusting my approach, and I ultimately got the hit that I got.”
Y-D has now won nine straight games and will enter Monday’s off day with a 10-2-1 record. The team is firing on all cylinders and will look to continue their winning streak on the road against Cotuit on Tuesday evening.
